Booster Posted July 17, 2009 Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 One for our health professionals on here please: Can I have a couple of beers (and it will just be a couple of beers) whilst taking 500mg Amoxicillin? Will it knacker the effects of the antibiotic? TIA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drinks Posted July 17, 2009 Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 (edited) No adverse interaction normally occurs between alcohol and amoxicillin. There is some evidence that alcohol delays the absorption of amoxicillin but it does not affect the total amount absorbed. A couple of beers will be fine. The above doesn't mean that it's fine to have loads either though, as that's just not clever if you need to take antibiotics. Edited July 17, 2009 by Drinks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booster Posted July 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 I thank you sir and will show your reply to my wife later :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calm Chris Posted July 17, 2009 Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 Some AB's and booze are a complete no no. Amox is low strength, so should be fine. I was told it's not just that the alcohol destroys the benefit of the AB it's also to do with fluid level. 4 beers might not break down the AB benefit, but drunk quickly and thus p1ssed out soonish after, flushes the AB out not giving the body a chance to absorb the AB (hope that all makes sense!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drinks Posted July 17, 2009 Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 Some antibiotics do interact with alcohol and the reaction can be quite severe. The problem with mixing alcohol and antibiotics in general is that alcohol in the main does your body no favours, especially if you are sick. This is the usual rationale behind avoiding alcohol and antibiotics where there is no interaction. Amoxicillin can cause nausea and dizziness and alcohol can make these symptoms worse. It would make sense to wait at least an hour after taking the amoxicillin before starting drinking to give the body a chance to absorb the drug before alcohol is introduced to the system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booster Posted July 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 Ta+++ Just taken evening dose so will give it an hour or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted July 17, 2009 Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 As well as the absorption issues, alcohol breaks down beta-lactam antibiotics quickly and makes them ineffective. As with all antibiotics you need to finish the course, but with beta-lactams and booze, you've rendered some of your treatment inactive. Antibiotics take a while to accumulate in the body, so be careful. There is nothing in the handbook of medicines concerning amoxycillin and booze. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmerpalmer Posted July 17, 2009 Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 alcohol breaks down beta-lactam antibiotics quickly and makes them ineffective. . thats a new one on me - which book of clinical pharmacology did that one come from? beta lactamase enzymes can break down the beta lactam ring - not aware alcohol can do this, as it does not contain these enzymes (or any) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now